Different types of books are appreciated at different age levels. As a teacher, great books for each age level has to be known. Also HOW to get each child to want to read is important. Every lesson is enhanced with a good picture book. In the following pages, I have included several of my lessons some of which contain great books for children.
0-2 Years Old
-Infants also can benefit from good literature
-when choosing books for very young children consider physical elements such as how well they can see the pictures, and how long they will sit still
-Collections of nursery rhymes, board books, concept books, interactive books are good books for this age group
-Concept Books- a picture book that explores an idea (trains) rather than telling a story. Many of these books have no plot but use repeated elements in the illustrations.
-Baby Books- simply designed, brightly illustrated, durable that are intended for use for children
-Interactive Books- picture books that stimulate a child’s verbal or physical participation
-Ex. Interactive book : “Pat the Bunny”- by Patricia Kunhardt
-Wordless Books- depends entirely on carefully sequenced illustrations to present the story. There is no text, so the illustrations must be highly narrative.
-Invite reader and listener to “talk the book through” - wordless or with brief text, simple format
-Toy Books- use paper that has been cut, folded and constructed to provide pop up, see through, moveable, and 3 dimensional illustrations
2-4 Years Old
-Many books enjoyed by babies are also enjoyed by toddlers, but with slight different in emphasis -Concept Books- a picture book that explores an idea (trains) or concept (opposites) rather than telling a story. Many of these books have no plot but use repeated elements in the illustrations. -Counting Books- presents numbers, usually 1-10 to acquaint young children with the numerals and their shapes ( 1, 2, 3...) and the number names ( one, two, three…) -Alphabet/ ABC Books- present the alphabet letter by letter to acquaint young children with the shapes and names of the 26 letters. -Simple picture storybooks- a book in which a story is told through both words and pictures.
-Children this age take pride in reading these books because they have accomplished some of these tasks
-Ex: “Owen” by Kevin Henkes
4-7 Years Old
-Increasing independence and enthusiasm for finding out about the world
-Stories where children interact with other kids, begin school, spend time away from home are enjoyed -Picture Storybooks- a book in which a story is told through both words and pictures. Text and illustrations occur with equal frequency in these books are the heart of literature experience during these years
-Ex: What to do With a Tail Like This- by Steve Jenkins -Easy-to-Read Books- are created to help the beginner reader read independently, form word patterns and make use of familiar words
-Ex: “Frog and Toad” Series by Arnold Lobel
-children love to read about learning interesting facts
7-9 Years Old
-Accept others perspectives
-Recognize life and people do not fit into simple good and bad categories
-Develop understanding of past and future time, and enjoy books about children in past, present, or future
-Begin to assert growing ability to meet their own needs -Picture Books for older readers- generally mores sophisticated, abstract, and complex in themes and stories.
-Advantages of picture books in elementary school:
A. teacher read aloud for supplements or an intro to a subject
B. Text Set- several books on the same topic
C. Models of excellent writing
D. Factual content that is reinforced through the book
E. Models of excellent writing -Books for this age enter on adventures of young characters in their neighborhood or community
-Transitional Books- special books for children that can read but are not yet fluent readers
-Ex: A Dog on Barkham Street by Mary Stolz
9-12 Years Old
-Rapidly developing physical and mental skills, ready for more complicated story plots
-Historical fiction and science fiction can be introduced and enjoyed
-Flashbacks, symbolism, and dialects of different cultures are now understood
-Peers in survival stories about growing up and facing challenges of life
-Moral dilemmas and other points of views
-Ex: “Wringer” by Jerry Spinelli
-knowing the child’s reading preference is best for this age- they start to know what they like
Children's Literature
Different types of books are appreciated at different age levels. As a teacher, great books for each age level has to be known. Also HOW to get each child to want to read is important. Every lesson is enhanced with a good picture book. In the following pages, I have included several of my lessons some of which contain great books for children.
0-2 Years Old
- Infants also can benefit from good literature
- when choosing books for very young children consider physical elements such as how well they can see the pictures, and how long they will sit still
- Collections of nursery rhymes, board books, concept books, interactive books are good books for this age group
- Concept Books- a picture book that explores an idea (trains) rather than telling a story. Many of these books have no plot but use repeated elements in the illustrations.
- Baby Books- simply designed, brightly illustrated, durable that are intended for use for children
- Interactive Books- picture books that stimulate a child’s verbal or physical participation
- Ex. Interactive book : “Pat the Bunny”- by Patricia Kunhardt
- Wordless Books- depends entirely on carefully sequenced illustrations to present the story. There is no text, so the illustrations must be highly narrative.
- Invite reader and listener to “talk the book through” - wordless or with brief text, simple format
- Toy Books- use paper that has been cut, folded and constructed to provide pop up, see through, moveable, and 3 dimensional illustrations
2-4 Years Old
-Many books enjoyed by babies are also enjoyed by toddlers, but with slight different in emphasis
- Concept Books- a picture book that explores an idea (trains) or concept (opposites) rather than telling a story. Many of these books have no plot but use repeated elements in the illustrations.
- Counting Books- presents numbers, usually 1-10 to acquaint young children with the numerals and their shapes ( 1, 2, 3...) and the number names ( one, two, three…)
- Alphabet/ ABC Books- present the alphabet letter by letter to acquaint young children with the shapes and names of the 26 letters.
- Simple picture storybooks- a book in which a story is told through both words and pictures.
- Children this age take pride in reading these books because they have accomplished some of these tasks
- Ex: “Owen” by Kevin Henkes
4-7 Years Old
- Increasing independence and enthusiasm for finding out about the world
- Stories where children interact with other kids, begin school, spend time away from home are enjoyed
- Picture Storybooks- a book in which a story is told through both words and pictures. Text and illustrations occur with equal frequency in these books are the heart of literature experience during these years
- Ex: What to do With a Tail Like This- by Steve Jenkins
- Easy-to-Read Books- are created to help the beginner reader read independently, form word patterns and make use of familiar words
- Ex: “Frog and Toad” Series by Arnold Lobel
- children love to read about learning interesting facts
7-9 Years Old
- Accept others perspectives
- Recognize life and people do not fit into simple good and bad categories
- Develop understanding of past and future time, and enjoy books about children in past, present, or future
- Begin to assert growing ability to meet their own needs
- Picture Books for older readers- generally mores sophisticated, abstract, and complex in themes and stories.
- Advantages of picture books in elementary school:
A. teacher read aloud for supplements or an intro to a subject
B. Text Set- several books on the same topic
C. Models of excellent writing
D. Factual content that is reinforced through the book
E. Models of excellent writing
- Books for this age enter on adventures of young characters in their neighborhood or community
- Transitional Books- special books for children that can read but are not yet fluent readers
- Ex: A Dog on Barkham Street by Mary Stolz
9-12 Years Old
- Rapidly developing physical and mental skills, ready for more complicated story plots
- Historical fiction and science fiction can be introduced and enjoyed
- Flashbacks, symbolism, and dialects of different cultures are now understood
- Peers in survival stories about growing up and facing challenges of life
- Moral dilemmas and other points of views
- Ex: “Wringer” by Jerry Spinelli
- knowing the child’s reading preference is best for this age- they start to know what they like